Illuminated level



Sept. 15, 1953 A. H. HALL ILLUMINATED LEVEL Filed oct. s1. 195o l I w t rmu'f H-.hHa/l IN1/Enroll v Patented Sept. 15, 1953 Zulidl UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE ILLUMINATED LEVEL Arthur H. Hall, La Crosse, Wis.

Application October 31, 1950, Serial No. 193,076

1 Claim.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements and structural refinements in levels, more particularly, spirit levels such as are used by carpenters, or the like, and the principal object of the invention is to provide a level with one or more flashlights for illuminating the vials thereof, so that the vials may be conveniently and accurately observed when the level is used in dark locations.

An important feature of the invention resides in the provision of means for mounting the flashlights in the level in an appropriate position to illuminate the vials, while some of the advantages of the invention lie in its simplicity of construction, in its efficient and accurate operation, and in its adaptability for use with levels of different sizes and types.

With the above more important objects and features in View, and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention consists essentially of the arrangement and construction of parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view thereof on an enlarged scale;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional detail, taken substantially in the plane of the line 3-3 of Figure 2; and,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional detail,` taken substantially in the plane of the line 4--4 of Figure 2.

Like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts in the specification and throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the general reference character li! designates a conventional level comprising an elongated housing l2 which is of metallic construction and includes a pair of spaced parallel longitudinal membersl i4 defining therebetween an elongated recess I5, the members li having relatively thin, longitudinally extending webs i3 which project inwardly into the recess I6, as shown.

The housing l2 is usually cast integrally with annular vial enclosures 20 which are disposed between the members lli in the recess li and accommodate pairs of spirit vials 22.

Usually, several pairs of vials are provided in the level, as shown in Figure l, and since the illuminating means for the several pairs of vials are similar in construction, it is believed that a 2 description of the illuminating means for the vials in one annulus 2@ will suffice for all.

These illuminating means comprise a conventional flashlight fi which is mounted in the recess ii eXteriorly of the annular enclosure 2li and is removably positioned in a resilient clip 25 attached to the web It of one of the members it by a suitable screw 28.

The clip 2t has an open side as is best shown in Figure 4, whereby the entire flashlight may be readily removed from the level for the purpose of replacing its batteries or its bulb, the latter being indicated at 35i.

The enclosure i is provided with a countersunk aperture or opening 32 (see Figure 3) which is disposed coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the housing l2 and is adapted to receive the conoidal bulb end portion 3. of the flashlight 2li, so that the light rays emanating from the bulb Sil may illuminate the vials 22 in the enclosure 2i).

It is to be noted that by employing the iiashlight 24, the invention is entirely self-contained and needless to say, a separate flashlight may be used for the vials in each of the several enclosures 2li with which the level is provided.

If desired, suitable plugs (not shown) may be installed in the openings 32 when the flashlights are removed from the level, in order to prevent entry of dust into the enclosures 2t.

It is believed that the advantages and use of the invention will be clearly apparent from the foregoing disclosure and accordingly, further description thereof at this point is deemed unnecessary.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction, combina-- tion and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

In a level, the combination of an elongated housing including a pair of spaced parallel longitudinal members affording an elongated re cess and having relatively thin longitudinal webs projecting inwardly into said recess, said housing also including an annular vial enclosure disposed between said members in said recess and provided with an aperture coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the housing, and a iiashlight mounted in the recess of said housing eXteriorly of said enclosure and including a bulb disposed in said aesaiei 3 aperture whereby to illuminate vials in the enclosure, and means for removably mounting said flashlight in said recess, said means comprising a resilient clip secured to the web of one of said longitudinal members and frictionally engaging the flashlight, said clip including a flat arm section secured solely at one end thereof directly to one of said webs and projecting transversely into said recess, the free end of said arm forming a hook having a narrow entrance portion and a wide body portion for clamping the body of the flashlight therein, the side wall edges dening said aperture being tapered and conforming to the shape of the head of said ashlight.

ARTHUR H. HALL.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Tangee July 17, 1923 Bright Jan. 6, 1925 Kirby Dec. 22, 1925 Lancaster Nov. l5, 1938 Gelardin Aug. 29, 1939 Andrus Aug. 19, 1941 

